Drainable bag for wet goods

ABSTRACT

A drainable bag for wet goods comprises a main storage area having an opening for introducing the wet goods, a first closure for closing the opening, a drainage reservoir; at least one drainage channel between the main storage area and the drainage reservoir; a detachment region along the drainage reservoir for aiding detachment of the drainage reservoir; and a second closure located between the storage area and the detachment region, for closing the main storage area following detachment of the drainage reservoir.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/497,552 filed Jun. 16, 2011,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drainable storage bag for wet goodsand, more particularly, but not exclusively to a bag for receiving thegoods in a wet state, say immediately after washing and allowing thegoods to be drained and stored therein, for example for the purposes ofstorage over time or transport.

Plants constantly lose water to the air, mainly via their leafy parts,as if they were filter paper. Plants remain in a turgid state, that iswill remain hard and firm and appear fresh, as long as they are intactand connected to a water source in the soil. When plant parts, such asleaves, shoots and fruits, are harvested as a crop they start to wiltand cease to look fresh in the customer's eye. The amount of water thatplant parts lose to the air and thus the time that passes until theycease to appear fresh depends on the humidity around the plant material.If the environment is humid, they will lose less water, stay longer in aturgid state and the shelf life of the goods is thus extended. It isthus desirable, to keep the crop in humid conditions in order to providea longer shelf life.

Fruit and vegetables are wet goods, and processing of fruit andvegetables often involves washing. The fruit or vegetables are oftenstored or transported following washing and prior to reaching thecustomer. Customers expect to buy their produce fresh, but distributorsrequire time to give them marketing flexibility and thus storage systemsthat extend the shelf life of the produce are important.

Shelf life is governed by many factors, depending on the product. Withfruit and vegetables, shelf life can be extended if the produce can bekept in a humid environment in a sealed container. If the goods areinitially packed wet then they should be allowed to drain.

Leafy vegetables tend to lose moisture, leading to rapid deteriorationof vitamin C. Leafy vegetables are thus best stored in moisture-sealedplastic bags.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,163,324 relates to a bag for storing vegetables thereinwith eyelets provided for drainage.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,149 relates to a container for fruit and the likecomprising two conical compartments, to allow for washing of the fruitwhilst in the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,093 teaches a disposable salad spinner. A bag has ato storage chamber dimensioned to accept the washable goods of interest,a reservoir positioned beneath the storage chamber and connected to thestorage chamber through a series of apertures. When the user revolvesthe bag, the excess water is driven down away from the washable goodsthrough the apertures and into the reservoir. A channel extending up theside of the bag provides a means for draining the reservoir prior tosealing the bag for storage. The disposable salad spinner is intended,however, for consumer use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiments allow packing of vegetables and fruits, whenthey are still wet. Excess water can be drained during shipping orstoring but nevertheless the crop may be retained in humid conditions inorder to provide a longer shelf life.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided adrainable bag for wet goods comprising:

a main storage area having an opening for introducing said wet goods;

a first closure for closing said opening;

a drainage reservoir;

at least one drainage channel separating said main storage area fromsaid drainage reservoir;

a detachment region across said bag for aiding detachment of saiddrainage reservoir from said main storage area; and

a second closure located between said main storage area and saiddetachment region, for closing said main storage area followingdetachment of said drainage reservoir.

In an embodiment, said at least one drainage channel comprises aplurality of small drainage channels.

In an embodiment, said plurality of small drainage channels compriseperforations in a septum dividing said main storage area from saidreservoir.

In an embodiment, said second closure is located between said perforatedseptum and said detachment region.

In an embodiment, said first closure is a reversible closure.

In an embodiment, said second closure is a reversible closure.

In an embodiment, said detachment region comprises one member of thegroup consisting of a perforation, a score, a weakened section of bagwall, corresponding male and female tracks, and an embedded tear tape.

In an embodiment, said detachment region extends over a width of saiddrainage reservoir, from a first side of said bag to a second, opposite,side of said bag.

The bag may contain wet goods in the main storage area, the main storagearea being closed via said first closure, said second closure being openthereby to render the wet goods drainable via said at least one drainagechannel into said drainage reservoir.

The bag may contain drained wet goods in the main storage area, thedrainage reservoir detached therefrom and the main storage area closedvia said first closure and further via said second closure.

In an embodiment, said first closure and said second closure are sealingclosures for sealing said main storage area.

The bag may comprise collapsible material.

In an embodiment, said second closure comprises a zipper, the zippercomprising a closable track on facing sides of the bag, and a travelelement for traveling over said closable track to close said bag in onedirection and to open said bag in a second, opposite, direction, saidtravel element comprising pressing elements for pressing inwardly ontosaid track and a bridge element for linking said pressing elements,travel of said travel element being prevented by said drainagereservoir, such that said second closure is closable only when saiddrainage reservoir is removed.

In an embodiment, the wet goods comprise vegetables.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of draining wet goods, comprising:

placing said wet goods in a main storage area, said main storage areabeing terminated by at least one drainage channel leading to areservoir;

leaving said wet goods in said main storage area to drain via said atleast one drainage channel; and

detaching said reservoir.

In an embodiment, the method may involve closing said main storage areavia a first closure after placing said wet goods therein, and reclosingsaid main storage area via a second closure following detachment of saidreservoir.

In an embodiment, said at least one drainage channel comprises aplurality of small channels.

In an embodiment, said plurality of small channels comprise perforationsin a septum dividing said main storage are from said reservoir.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, andexamples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to belimiting.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in someembodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particularembodiment of the invention may include a plurality of “optional”features unless such features conflict.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now tothe drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are byway of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presentedin order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readilyunderstood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of theinvention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural detailsof the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamentalunderstanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawingsmaking apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of theinvention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a drainable storage bag forstorage of wet goods such as fruit and vegetables according to a firstembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the use of a drainable bag such asthat shown in FIG. 1 according to embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiments comprise a bag having a main chamber or storagearea and a drainage reservoir separated from the main chamber by adrainage region, typically a perforated septum that allows for passageof fluid but not of the goods. A detachment region allows the reservoirto be detached while leaving the main chamber intact. The detachmentregion may comprise a perforation, a score, a weakened section of bagwall, an embedded tear tape, or any other means for allowing a cleantear that does not damage the rest of the bag and prevent furthersealing of the main storage area.

A first openable closure leads to the main chamber for insertion of thewet goods, and is closable, preferably via a zipper. A second openableclosure leads from the main chamber to the fluid reservoir and islikewise closable, preferably via a zipper.

In use both closures are opened and the wet goods are introduced intothe main chamber. The first closure is then closed to seal the mainchamber. The wet goods drain with time into the reservoir via theperforated septum and the now open second closure and then the reservoiris detached via the detachable perforation. The second closure is closedto reseal the main chamber after the main chamber becomes unsealed bythe detachment of the reservoir.

In an embodiment, the reservoir impedes the passage of a zipper elementof the second closure so that drainage cannot be inadvertently preventedtoo early during storage.

The principles and operation of an apparatus and method according to thepresent invention may be better understood with reference to thedrawings and accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a plastic, or othercollapsible disposable material, that can be used as a closable orsealable bag. The bag is designed to store washable goods such as wetvegetables. The bag 10 has an upper 12 and lower 14 closure, typicallyreversible closures which are closed via respective zippers. The upperzipper 12 is closed after the wet goods are placed inside a main chamber16. A lower zipper 14 remains open to allow excess fluid from washing ofthe wet goods to drain through one or more drainage channels into alower fluid reservoir 20. Typically the drainage channels compriseperforations in a septum that divides the main storage area from thereservoir. Such a perforated septum 22 extends across the width of thebag and the perforations allow drainage into a lower fluid reservoir 20.The perforated septum may thus comprise tiny apertures, or evenmicro-channels, designed to allow fluid drainage and to keep the goodsin humid conditions in the main chamber 16.

When the excess fluids have accumulated in the reservoir, the lower partof the bag, which forms the fluid reservoir 20 can be detached, forexample along a widthwise perforation 22. The widthwise perforationseparates upper and lower parts of the bag. Following separation thelower zipper 14 is closed to seal the wet goods in the main chamber 16.

The detachment is typically irreversible. Detachment may be for examplevia a perforation, a score, a weakened section of bag wall,corresponding male and female tracks, or an embedded tear tape. In thecase of corresponding male and female tracks the detachment may bereversible.

In the case of a perforation, a score, a weakened section of bag wall,or an embedded tear tape, additional reattachment means may be provided.Such means may for example comprise corresponding male and female tracksin the bag walls.

In an embodiment, the lower zipper comprises a traveling element thatpasses over a track in the bag. The traveling element is shaped to closethe track in one direction and open the track in the other direction andas such presses against both sides of the bag. The traveling elementtherefore comprises two shaped pressing elements joined together by abridge element.

In an embodiment the lower traveling element cannot follow the trackacross the bag until the reservoir is removed, since the reservoirblocks the way of the bridge element part. Thus it is possible to ensurethat the bag cannot inadvertently be sealed prior to removal of thereservoir, thereby interfering with proper draining.

In a further embodiment the bag may have ventilation holes. For examplethe wall of the bag may have small rounded holes.

The bag permits to pack and store the goods while still wet and toremove the excess fluids during storage or shipping or even aftershipping, thus allowing the goods to dry while keeping them in a closedhumid environment. Such a packaging system is expected to prolong theshelf life of sealed goods such as vegetables.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first closure, the septum, the second closureand the detachment perforation are all parallel along a widthwisedirection of the bag. However other mutual orientations may beappropriate in different storage systems as long as the water is able todrain into the reservoir.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified flow chartillustrating how the present embodiments may be used. A method ofdraining wet goods, comprises 30 placing the wet goods in the mainstorage area. As explained, the main storage area is terminated by oneor more drainage channels, typically a perforated septum, leading to areservoir. The first closure is then closed 32 and the wet goods areleft to drain. The reservoir is detached 34 and the second closure isthen closed to seal the main storage chamber.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patentapplications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated intheir entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extentas if each individual publication, patent or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein byreference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference inthis application shall not be construed as an admission that suchreference is available as prior art to the present invention.

1. A drainable bag for wet goods comprising: a main storage area havingan opening for introducing said wet goods; a first closure for closingsaid opening; a drainage reservoir; at least one drainage channelseparating said main storage area from said drainage reservoir; adetachment region across said bag for aiding detachment of said drainagereservoir from said main storage area; and a second closure locatedbetween said main storage area and said detachment region, for closingsaid main storage area following detachment of said drainage reservoir.2. The drainable bag of claim 1, wherein said at least one drainagechannel comprises a plurality of small drainage channels.
 3. Thedrainage bag of claim 2, wherein said plurality of small drainagechannels comprise perforations in a septum dividing said main storagearea from said reservoir.
 4. The drainable bag of claim 3, wherein saidsecond closure is located between said perforated septum and saiddetachment region.
 5. The drainable bag of claim 1, wherein said firstclosure is a reversible closure.
 6. The drainable bag of claim 1,wherein said second closure is a reversible closure.
 7. The drainablebag of claim 1, wherein said detachment region comprises one member ofthe group consisting of a perforation, a score, a weakened section ofbag wall, corresponding male and female tracks, and an embedded teartape.
 8. The drainable bag of claim 1, wherein said detachment regionextends over a width of said drainage reservoir, from a first side ofsaid bag to a second, opposite, side of said bag.
 9. The drainable bagof claim 1, containing wet goods in the main storage area, the mainstorage area closed via said first closure, said second closure beingopen thereby to render the wet goods drainable via said at least onedrainage channel into said drainage reservoir.
 10. The drainable bag ofclaim 1, containing drained wet goods in the main storage area, thedrainage reservoir detached therefrom and the main storage area closedvia said first closure and further via said second closure.
 11. Thedrainable bag of claim 1, wherein said first closure and said secondclosure are sealing closures for sealing said main storage area.
 12. Thedrainable bag of claim 1, comprising collapsible material.
 13. Thedrainable bag of claim 1, wherein said second closure comprises azipper, the zipper comprising a closable track on facing sides of thebag, and a travel element for traveling over said closable track toclose said bag in one direction and to open said bag in a second,opposite, direction, said travel element comprising pressing elementsfor pressing inwardly onto said track and a bridge element for linkingsaid pressing elements, travel of said travel element being prevented bysaid drainage reservoir, such that said second closure is closable onlywhen said drainage reservoir is removed.
 14. The drainable bag of claim1 wherein the wet goods comprise vegetables.
 15. A method of drainingwet goods, comprising: placing said wet goods in a main storage area,said main storage area being terminated by at least one drainage channelleading to a reservoir; leaving said wet goods in said main storage areato drain via said at least one drainage channel; and detaching saidreservoir.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising closing saidmain storage area via a first closure after placing said wet goodstherein, and reclosing said main storage area via a second closurefollowing detachment of said reservoir.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein said at least one drainage channel comprises a plurality ofsmall channels.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality ofsmall channels comprise perforations in a septum dividing said mainstorage are from said reservoir.